Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!motcid!murphyn
From: murphyn@cell.mot.COM (Neal P. Murphy)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript
Subject: Re: Bitmap of PostScript code..
Message-ID: <1341@cherry5.UUCP>
Date: 20 Feb 90 19:03:07 GMT
References: <1990Feb14.041704.14844@athena.mit.edu> <2761@bacchus.dec.com> <30006@sparkyfs.istc.sri.com> <17975@rpp386.cactus.org> <1990Feb19.172134.12850@intercon.com> <144@heaven.woodside.ca.us>
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Organization: Motorola Inc. - Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Heights, IL 60004
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glenn@heaven.woodside.ca.us (Glenn Reid) writes:

>In article <1990Feb19.172134.12850@intercon.com> amanda@mermaid.intercon.com (Amanda Walker) writes:

>bitmap device, and that's an important distinction (see below)  But you
>can't really do halftoning or implement even-odd fill algorithms on a
>vinyl cutter.  At least I couldn't.

Sure you could! You could even design a machine that would cut cloth for
patchwork quilts with any shape or design. Such a machine would simply
select, from inventory, the pattern that most closely matches the requisite
half-toning or even-odd fill specification, perhaps selecting the smallest
piece that could be used, and cut it.

The two reasons that PostScript has pixel-map capabilities built in are:
1) region-filling is difficult with vector devices, and
2) raster devices are far more common.

Ideally, PostScript should be used with vector devices, since PostScipt's
internal representing scheme uses vectors. As I recall, the old Tektronix
4014 had a screen resolution of about 400 dpi (3k dots high by 4k dots
wide on a 14 (diagonal) CRT.) I believe it could also draw:
    bright and normal vectors,
    focused and unfocused vectors

These characteristics would allow it to present a nicer image than can be
had from a 300 dpi laserprinter. But it was a vector device. It would have
the Devil's own time displaying a pixel map!

PostScript can be adjusted to drive most any two dimensional device, and,
with a fair amount of work, it could probably drive a 3-D device. Such
'abnormal' devices would include an NC milling machine, or an NC lathe,
plexi-glass display cutter, trophy engraver, ice sculpture cutter and
other such machines.

PostScript is designed to work with raster devices simply because such
devices are the most prevalent today. But it can work with any device
that prints, cuts, moves, draws, or paints.

NPN